Family Highlights Tour with Nazca Lines

As you arrive into Lima airport and exit customs and baggage, you will be warmly welcomed by our driver. You will be assisted with your luggage before escorted to your hotel in a private vehicle. Free evening.

After a delicious breakfast start your visit of colonial and modern Lima, starting in the centre of this vibrant, metropolis. The tour will include a visit of the cathedral, dating from 1654 which still houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro in the foyer; the Main Square, with the original bronze fountain built in 1650, the Government Palace where the President has his official residence and the San Francisco Convent, with its famous catacombs. Lima, known as the city of the kings, was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and after several devastating earthquakes was rebuilt in 1991; the same year that UNESCO declared Lima a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonial power.

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cuzco, you will be warmly welcomed and assisted with your luggage before your drive to the Sacred Valley. Lunch along the way. Accommodation in the Sacred Valley.

After breakfast at your hotel, discover the best of the Sacred Valley of the Incas through this route starting on the Inca's Balcony, in Chinchero, a beautiful place with an impressive view, where twelves families still preserve their traditional costums, showing you the ancestral way in which they process the wool, and obtain those vivid colors for their textiles. A visit to the market. Later, we will visit Maras salt mines and the ancient ampitheatre of Moray. After lunch, a visit to Pisaq before returning to your hotel.

After breakfast, visit Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above before taking the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. Arrive to Aguas Calientes train station, gateway to the lost city of the Incas. Your main luggage will be transferred to your hotel in Cuzco. Check-in to your hotel. The short ride up to Machu Picchu will meander through breathtaking mountain scenery up to the ancient Inca citadel. Shortly after, a personal look around of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world.

After breakfast, return to Machu Picchu for a guided tour. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps. Return train back to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

Free morning. In the early afternoon, you will be met for a Tour of Cuzco including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco city, Qenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel in the evening.

Early transfer to the bus terminal for the tourist bus to Puno. This trip will begin by ascending gradually out of the Cuzco Valley until arriving at the town of Andahuaylillas where you will visit the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”. This colonial era Chapel features mainly interesting canvasses which illustrate the use of Andean Symbology being incorporated into traditional Catholic images. From here you will travel further to Raqchi which is the tallest set of Incan Ruins. The road from here climbs slightly to La Raya which is the highest point at 4200 m. There will be a brief stop here and there are views across to the snow-capped mountain peak. From here the road gradually descends to Pukara where you will visit the museum and ruins of this pre-incan civilisation. This civilisation was said to be at its peak around the same time as Mesopotamia and Egypt and the leader was known as the “Great Beheader”. From this visit you will continue to Puno situated on the edge of Lake Titicaca. Lunch will be buffet at a restaurant during the trip. Lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake. Transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, pick-up to start your full day’s excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Your first stop will be to the communal islands of Uros, otherwise known as the reed islands, whose islands are made entirely of tortora reeds and home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. You will appreciate how these people toil out an existence on such a remote setting complete with its own school. After the visit, boarding of the yacht as you continue your trip to the Island of Taquile whose inhabitants are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. You will enjoy a walk on the islands before returning to Puno on-board your yacht and return to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight back to Lima and private transfer to Ica, some 5 hours south of Lima, passing through the desert coast. Overnight accommodation.

After breakfast, drive to the airport to board the aircraft for the flight over the Nazca Lines. These enormous, ancient drawings of geometrical figures were carved into the desert sands of Nazca thousands of years ago and can now only be seen from the air in special touring aircraft. The markings were thought to be an ancient astronomical calendar but are now accepted as ancient offerings to the gods. Enjoy the tour over the desert before returning to Paracas. Please note the Air ticket for the Nazca fly-over tour lasts over 1 hour and 15 minutes (please note this is the full flight over the Palpa and Nazca lines and not the 25 minute flight some companies offer). Fly-over tour includes commentary from the pilot/guide. Lunch before returning to Lima in time for your return flight home.

End of our services.